19 Santi Cazorla

Santi Cazorla (full name Santiago Cazorla González), 28 (b. 13 September 1984) is the orchestrator of the Arsenal offence. Standing at 1.64 meters, “diminutive” is a common adjective for the Spanish winger, but one applied most often as a term of endearment. What the Villareal and Málaga alumnus lacks in height, he more than makes up for in speed, chemistry with strikers Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud and ability to dictate the pace of a match (not to mention goal-scoring ability as well). A mainstay of Spain’s national side — having nine goals in fifty-nine caps for La Roja — Santi started his professional career at age seven with Tercera División Covadonga’s youth side before moving to Real Oviedo in 1996. Santi left his native Asturias for first division Villarreal in 2003, scoring four goals for their ‘B’ side in forty appearances before transitioning to the first team. He made fifty-three appearances — also scoring four times — and helping Villarreal to the group stage of the UEFA Champions’ League, following two 2-1 results against Everton. Villarreal would go on to draw Manchester United in both legs of the group stage of the tournament and win and draw against Lille and Benfica to go undefeated, advancing to the Round of 16. There they advanced past Rangers of Scotland on account of away goals to face Internazioale in quarterfinals, where they also advanced on aggregate due to away goals. Ironically, the squad were sent home courtesy of a Kolo Touré winner in the 41st minute and a Jens Lehmann penalty save at Highbury. Villarreal and Arsenal played to a nil-nil draw at El Madrigal. Santi played a crucial role in El Submarino Amarillo’s best Champions’ League finish in the history of the competition. The summer saw Santi’s move to recently promoted Recreativo de Huelva, which he helped guide to an eighth-place spot in La Liga. A clause in his contract allowed Villarreal to sign him back for €1.2m, and Cazorla went on to enjoy his most productive pre-Gunner years, finding the back of the net twenty-three times in 123 appearances. While injury cost him the 2010 World Cup for Spain, he helped lead Málaga to its first Champions’ League appearance in 2012, finishing second on the club in scoring (netting nine goals in total) and guiding Los Boquerones to fourth place in La Liga. His time at Málaga would be brief, however, after Arsène Wenger completed his summer 2012 signing spree with a €20m (£15.6m at the time, roughly £17.3m as of 05 August 2013) offer to the financially imperiled club. Cazorla would go on to shine for we Gunners, scoring and assisting Podolski on September’s 2-0 win at Anfield (always a treat for any Gooner) and assisting all four goals at May’s vital match versus Wigan, sending them to the Championship and keeping us alive for the Champions’ League. In sum, Santi is a world-class footballer who fits supremely well into The Boss’s scheme. His ball control is impeccable, his crosses can put even Megan Rapinoe to shame (hey, I am an American after all), he can score when he needs to and from all accounts is a great teammate.